Official Government Website

Members and Staff

Council members and staff posing outside

Members

The Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities is a 23-member volunteer board, created by federal and state law, whose purpose is to advocate for Idahoans with developmental disabilities to assure they have access to needed community support, individualized services, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and inclusion in Idaho communities. Individuals are appointed by the Governor for three-year terms, starting July 1 of each year. Representation is from the following:

  • Six people with developmental disabilities
  • Seven family members of people with developmental disabilities
  • One guardian or relative of a person in an institution
  • A representative of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
  • A representative of the State Department of Education
  • A representative of Title XIX – Medicaid
  • A representative of Title V Maternal and Child Health
  • A representative of the Office on Aging
  • Idaho Center on Disabilities & Human Development Idaho’s University Center for Excellence or (UCEDD)
  • Disability Rights Idaho (Idaho’s Protection and Advocacy Agency)
  • A local agency concerned with DD
  • A non-governmental or private organization concerned with DD
  • A non-profit organization concerned with DD

Current Council Members

MEMBER NAMEPOSITION
Adrienne SeamansParent, CHAIR
Carly SaxeSelf-Advocate, VICE CHAIR
Andrew MillsSelf-Advocate
DR ReffSelf-Advocate
Kevin SwearingenSelf-Advocate
Edgar ZunigaSelf-Advocate
VACANTSelf-Advocate
Sara BennettParent
Jenna GarrettParent
Maria JuarezParent
Rochelle LarsenParent
Marilu MorenoParent
Michael SandvigParent
VACANTParent
Janice CarsonUniversity Affiliated
VACANTMedicaid – Title XIX
Randi ColeDept. Of Education
Amy CunninghamProtection & Advocacy
Deedra HuntCommission on Aging
Jennifer JohnsonFor Profit /Non Gov. Organization
Mike MacGuffieVocational Rehab.
Emily PetersenLocal Agency Non-Profit
VACANTMaternal and Child Health – Title V

Staff

Christine Pisani, Executive Director
General administration and oversight of staff; federal and state legislative liaison; liaison to the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, The Idaho Consortium for Idahoans with Disabilities, Community Care Advisory Council, Collaborative Workgroup on Adult Developmental Disability Service Redesign, Aging, and Disability Resource Center, Community Advisory Committee with the Center on Disabilities and Human Development at the University of Idaho, Quality Assurance for Adult Self-Direction, Project Areas: Public Policy, Quality Assurance, Cultural Competence, Leadership Development, Dual Diagnosis, and Advocacy.

Marieke Edwards, Research Analyst
Federal reporting and planning, data collection, and analysis

Mona Engelbrecht, Financial Specialist
Budgets and support

Miguel Juarez, Program Specialist
Partners in Policymaking, Language Access, Latino Community Outreach and Training

Jill Smith, Program Specialist
Person-Centered Planning

Richelle Tierney, Policy Analyst
Review and Analysis of Policy and Legislative Issues, Coordination of Statewide Advocacy Coalition

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